Three Murders, No Regrets by Maxwell Mary

Author:Maxwell, Mary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2022-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Corinne Brimble’s office in the Cordova Hotel was nowhere near as large or grand as Loretta Keegan’s lair. It was quite clearly the opposite: a modest room filled with filing cabinets, bookshelves and a small desk covered by stacks of color-coded folders.

“Welcome to my nightmare,” Corinne said after I arrived on the second floor. “When Loretta called just now, my first thought was, ‘No one should see my office like this!’ But then I realized there was no point in worrying about it.” She put one hand on the nearest pile of paperwork. “I’m doing a major cleaning to get ready for the move.”

“Move?” I said. “Are you leaving the hotel?”

Corinne smiled. “Just this office. I’ve been promoted to senior vice president. It’s a no-no to have that title and stay on this floor.”

“Congratulations on the new position,” I said.

“Oh, I don’t know if it deserves anything like that.” Corinne sighed, planting both elbows on the desk and cradling her chin in her hands. “But thank you anyway. I’d be happy to stay right where I’ve been for the past ten years. But how would that be progress?”

“Onward and upward!” I said with a smile. “Isn’t that how most people would describe it?”

“You’re right.” She lowered her arms and sat up in the chair. “And I’m not ungrateful. I just happen to like this office a lot. When I moved into this space, I’d just graduated from college and it felt impossibly posh and important. I grew up in the area, and Keegan Hospitality was always on my list of top places to work.”

“And here you are,” I said. “After how many years?”

“Ten, going on eleven,” she said. “Although it doesn’t feel that long.”

“So you worked with Martin Lloyd for quite a while,” I said.

She nodded. “He was always such a great guy, too. Until the last few months.”

“What happened during that time?”

“I don’t exactly know,” she said. “But I got the impression that something was amiss in his personal life. Maybe with his finances? Or trouble with his children? I don’t know because Martin didn’t open up very much.”

“Kept to himself then?”

“Pretty much, yes. I know he and most of the family members were often at odds. I heard Martin on the phone more than once trying to borrow money and being rejected.” Her voice dropped into a soft hush. “Loretta mentioned that your visit to the hotel today has something to do with Martin’s brother. Is that right?”

“Yes, I’m working as a consultant for the police in Crescent Creek,” I said. “Harley Lloyd was murdered several days ago.”

Corinne’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, my God! Are you serious?”

“Yes, unfortunately,” I said.

“Do you know what happened?” she asked. “Was it a robbery gone sideways or something?”

“It happened at Harley’s home,” I said. “And nothing was taken.”

“I see.” Corinne’s phone buzzed but she didn’t seem to notice. “That’s such a horrible thing. And what a loss for Martin. Even though I don’t think they got along terribly well, I know that Martin was proud of his brother.

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